Texas v. Cameron Todd Willingham—Trouble in Texas

The chapter discusses the Cameron Todd Willingham case, a controversial arson investigation in Texas that led to Willingham's execution in 2004. The author led an Arson Review Committee commissioned by the Innocence Project that examined the case alongside a similar case involving Ernest Ray Willis. Willis was also sentenced to death but was exonerated. The committee found numerous flaws in the original fire investigations, which relied on outdated and unreliable indicators to conclude that the fires were arson. Willingham may be the first scientifically demonstrated case of an innocent person who was executed, although there have been many other posthumous exonerations of other kinds. The chapter details the political and legal challenges faced in reviewing the case, including interference from Texas Governor Rick Perry and attempts to limit the Texas Forensic Science Commission's jurisdiction. Despite these obstacles, multiple experts, including Dr. Gerald Hurst and Dr. Craig Beyler, concluded that there was no evidence of arson in the Willingham fire. The case garnered significant media attention and led to several documentaries and a feature film. It also prompted changes in fire investigation practices in Texas, including the appointment of a new fire marshal who implemented improved methods. Ultimately, the Willingham case served as a wake-up call, highlighting the need for more cautious and scientifically based fire investigations and interpretations of fire evidence, most especially in capital cases.